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Tiger Beer
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Posts: 778
Location: Hong Kong
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 Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| Wintermute wrote: |
| The digital channels (if you have a HDTV) are a little better. There are a few shows on at a reasonable hour (around 11pm) like Lost, 24 and Desperate Housewives. |
I know have HDTV. Digital channels? Where/how do I get those? |
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Hoser
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 694
Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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| By the way what the hell is wrong with NHK news? It's so damned boring! I've never seen more boring news before! And a non-Japanese related story pops up maybe once every 2 weeks it seems. And they do 15 minute exposes on the most piddling things. |
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Mothy
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Posts: 99
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| Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| I don't think that's just NHK news. |
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Mapleblondie
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 93
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| So, if we choose to get cable and internet, there are things like packages available from NTT and other companies, right? Has anyone subscribed to one of these packages? If so, how much do that cost (in general) per month?? I know internet (such as ADSL) is between 4000-5000 per month, but how much more is it to include cable tv in the one bill? |
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Wintermute
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 79
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| Wintermute wrote: |
| The digital channels (if you have a HDTV) are a little better. There are a few shows on at a reasonable hour (around 11pm) like Lost, 24 and Desperate Housewives. |
I know have HDTV. Digital channels? Where/how do I get those? |
If you bought your TV in Japan there should be a BS button on the remote - push that and you will have access to the HD channels. It's free so long as you don't let the NHK man in your home. If, like me, you bought your TV elsewhere you will have to either buy a digital tuner or rent one from a cable TV operator (I chose the later). |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Posts: 778
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| Wintermute wrote: |
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| Wintermute wrote: |
| The digital channels (if you have a HDTV) are a little better. There are a few shows on at a reasonable hour (around 11pm) like Lost, 24 and Desperate Housewives. |
I know have HDTV. Digital channels? Where/how do I get those? |
If you bought your TV in Japan there should be a BS button on the remote - push that and you will have access to the HD channels. It's free so long as you don't let the NHK man in your home. If, like me, you bought your TV elsewhere you will have to either buy a digital tuner or rent one from a cable TV operator (I chose the later). |
DOH! I bought mine from elsehwere - unfortunately.
How many channels do you get with the Digital Channels? Any channels with programs in English - thinking of news, documentary-stuff, or whatever else? |
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Miyazaki
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 635
Location: My Father's Yacht
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Skaa-Paa TV? |
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Mapleblondie
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 93
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| Is anyone able to answer my question about the average price per month for cable tv and internet? I know some companies sell bundles, and I will be in the Osaka area. Do you have any recommendations as to companies I should choose or avoid? And yes, I definitely plan on avoiding the NTT guy if possible. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:22 am Post subject: |
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| Wintermute wrote: |
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| Wintermute wrote: |
| The digital channels (if you have a HDTV) are a little better. There are a few shows on at a reasonable hour (around 11pm) like Lost, 24 and Desperate Housewives. |
I know have HDTV. Digital channels? Where/how do I get those? |
If you bought your TV in Japan there should be a BS button on the remote - push that and you will have access to the HD channels. It's free so long as you don't let the NHK man in your home. If, like me, you bought your TV elsewhere you will have to either buy a digital tuner or rent one from a cable TV operator (I chose the later). |
Just magically! Wow..... Probably a good idea to check that your building has a satellite dish as BS stands for Broadcasting Satellite. A lot of apartments will have them set up but some won't. Check with your landlord if you're not sure. There may be other options available like CATV. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:27 am Post subject: |
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| Mapleblondie wrote: |
| Is anyone able to answer my question about the average price per month for cable tv and internet? I know some companies sell bundles, and I will be in the Osaka area. Do you have any recommendations as to companies I should choose or avoid? And yes, I definitely plan on avoiding the NTT guy if possible. |
Again best to check if your building is cable ready, most "pay" TV in Japan is via satellite. I would expect a bundling (which will probably include an IP phone deal) will be between 6,000-10,000 a month depending on the internet speed and the premium channels for the TV. |
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Mapleblondie
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 93
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I know that ECC furnishes its apartments with TV/VCRs for employees, but I'm guessing that doesn't necessarily mean it's cable-ready, by the way you are talking about it.I was under the impression that most buildings that already had phone outlets in the apartments would be able to do internet, and that little was required for cable aside from signing up for it and plugging the TV into the wall. Hmm...I will definitely have to ask lots of questions when I find out where exactly I'll be living. The only reason I'm asking now is so that I can start trying to figure out a budget ahead of time. Thanks for the info  |
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Wintermute
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 79
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Mapleblondie wrote: |
| Is anyone able to answer my question about the average price per month for cable tv and internet? I know some companies sell bundles, and I will be in the Osaka area. Do you have any recommendations as to companies I should choose or avoid? And yes, I definitely plan on avoiding the NTT guy if possible. |
I go through JCOM. Their rates are very reasonable and the channel selection is good. Prices vary depending on the channels you want. The basic service starts are 4180yen per month. They usually have offers where they will install everything for free.
http://www.jcomwest.jp/ticn/service/catv/ch_lineup.html - here is the channel line up for Digital Basic (on the left in red) and Light (on the left in blue). I currently subscribe to the Digital Basic course plus the Star Channel Set (Star Channel HD, Star Plus and Star Classic) for 7180yen. I decided to go for the more expensive course because of the HD channels (particularly Star HD, Discovery HD and Movie Plus HD). I t also came with the Sci-Fi Channel too.
| Quote: |
| How many channels do you get with the Digital Channels? Any channels with programs in English - thinking of news, documentary-stuff, or whatever else? |
There are 8 BS channels. Surprisingly there are quite a few documentaries in English and there is usually an English movie on every week. To be honest though I rarely watch the BS channels. The documentaries are interesting, there was a great one with David Attenborough talking about a small town eco-system in Japan. |
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Mapleblondie
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 93
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for replying. Actually, I speak Japanese pretty well, so watching TV programmes in Japanese is not a problem. So, this company you go through is only about 5,000 yen per month for basic tv AND internet? I am actually happy even if I only get a few English channels...Almost entirely Japanese is fine. I just want to get a cheap deal form whichever company is the best to go with for the package of tv and internet together. |
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Wintermute
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 79
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:56 am Post subject: |
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| They do offer internet but that does cost extra (the price I gave you was for cable TV only). I think you can get cable TV, internet and telephone bundled together but it costs about 13000yen. Still a very good price. I am using ADSL through NTT at the moment and it costs me 6500yen a month. I'm tempted to switch to fiber optic but I don't see the benefits at the moment. |
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Mapleblondie
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 93
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:49 am Post subject: |
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| Do you HAVE TO get the phone included in the bundle? Is there a way to just get the 2 (tv and net)? I've heard ADSL is one of the best options available and the other options often depend on the building one lives in and the area. Well, I suppose 13,000 isn't THAT MUCH, but I am always on the lookout for a cheaper option that I might not otherwise consider without outside input/recommendations. |
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